{"podcast":{"title":"Shakespeare Anyone?","slug":"shakespeare-anyone-2709617","podcast_index_feed_id":2709617,"rss_url":"https://feeds.libsyn.com/314081/rss","website_url":"http://www.shakespeareanyone.com","image_url":"https://static.libsyn.com/p/assets/3/0/0/3/300359073e5f977288c4a68c3ddbc4f2/2024_Podcast_Cover.png","author":"Kourtney Smith & Elyse Sharp","episode_count":154,"summary":"Shakespeare Anyone? is co-hosted by Elyse Sharp and Kourtney Smith, two professional actors and hobbyist Shakespeare scholars. Join us as we explore Shakepeare's plays through as many lenses as we can by looking at the text and how the text is viewed through modern lenses of feminism, racism, classism, colonialism, nationalism… all the-isms. We will discuss how his plays shaped both the past and present, and look at how his work was performed throughout various periods of time–all while trying our best to approach his works without giving in to bardolatry. We examine one play at a time for an extended window of time, interspersed with mini-episodes about Shakespeare's time for context. Episodes are released every other week.","last_synced_at":"2026-07-29T16:17:05.854676+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/shakespeare-anyone-2709617"},"episode":{"title":"As You Like It: Touchstone and the Function of Shakespeare's Fools (Episode 150!)","slug":"as-you-like-it-touchstone-and-the-function-of-shakespeare-s-fools-episode-150","published_at":"2026-07-15T07:00:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/shakespeare-anyone-2709617/as-you-like-it-touchstone-and-the-function-of-shakespeare-s-fools-episode-150","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/shakespeare-anyone-2709617","url":"https://shakespeareanyone.libsyn.com/as-you-like-it-touchstone-and-the-function-of-shakespeares-fools-episode-150","audio_url":"https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/traffic.libsyn.com/secure/shakespeareanyone/SA_AYLI_Fools_Final_Cut_with_Bells_and_Whistles.mp3?dest-id=2528357","summary":"Want to support the podcast? Join our Patreon or buy us a coffee. As an independent podcast, Shakespeare Anyone? is supported by listeners like you. In this episode, we turn our attention to Touchstone, the sharp-tongued clown who trades the court for the Forest of Arden. We begin by revisiting what we already know about fools in Shakespeare's plays and the real-life clowns and jesters of early modern England. This sets the stage for us to explore what makes Touchstone stand apart from the rest of Shakespeare's fools. We then dig into how Touchstone functions less as pure comic relief and more as a fun-house mirror for the play itself, parodying the romantic entanglements and pastoral fantasies unfolding around him. Finally, we consider the meaning behind his name and what it reveals about his behavior throughout the play and what it means to be a touchstone in the Forest of Arden. And a special note: this is our 150th episode! Thank you for everyone who has listened and supported us along the way! Shakespeare Anyone? is created and produced by Kourtney Smith and Elyse Sharp. Music is \"Neverending Minute\" by Sounds Like Sander. For updates: Join our email list Follow us on Instagram at @shakespeareanyonepod Visit our website at shakespeareanyone.com Support the podcast: Become a patron at patreon.com/shakespeareanyone Buy us a coffee Bookshop.org : Since 2020, Bookshop.org has raised more than $38 million for independent bookstores. Shop our Shakespeare Anyone? storefront to find books featured on the podcast, books by our guests, and other Shakespeare-related books and gifts. Every purchase on the site financially supports independent bookstores. Libro.fm : Libro.fm makes it possible to purchase audiobooks through your local bookshop of choice. Use our link for 2 free…","meta_description":"Want to support the podcast? Join our Patreon or buy us a coffee. As an independent podcast, Shakespeare Anyone? is supported by listeners like you. In th…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":3348,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/shakespeare-anyone-2709617/episodes/as-you-like-it-touchstone-and-the-function-of-shakespeare-s-fools-episode-150/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/shakespeare-anyone-2709617/as-you-like-it-touchstone-and-the-function-of-shakespeare-s-fools-episode-150.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}